Local walks for disease
Edenvale resident, Zenobia Moriarty, completed the gruelling 301km Eco Ultra Marathon Walk to raise awareness for Fibromyalgia.
The Kalahari 301km walk is considered one of the most challenging walking marathons in the world.
The route consists of walking in deep, soft sand most of the time, while also traversing rocky mountains with long, steep climbs and downhills.
The distance is completed over a 10-day period, walking at a fast pace.
Zenobia, a Fibromyalgia sufferer, hopes to raise awareness of the disease and to bring hope to other sufferers.
“Exercise brings pain relief and makes me stronger for that day,” said Zenobia.
She began by walking shorter distances and gradually worked up to long distances, walking at a fast, steady pace.
“I also trained during the warmest time of the day to help acclimatise to the heat of the desert,” she said.
The race started at Bo Daberas and went through the hills and dry riverbed of the ancient Orange River. “We spotted fresh leopard footprints in the soft sand of the riverbed,” she said.
The route then proceeded through the Springbok Vlakte to the banks of the Orange River, with views of the Namibian plateau. “The desert was lush-green with tall, silver Kortbeen Boesman grass. Majestic Quiver trees were in full bloom, which was awesome,” said Zenobia.
Riemvasmaak was the highlight of the trip for Zenobia. “This very arid, mountainous area has yellow and red outcrops with intense blue skies, natural hot springs and a stillness that is deafening,” she said.
From there, the route proceeded through Vredenville, Kakamas and Keimos, walking through the hardeveld, duineveld, knoppies duine and along the ancient Malopo riverbed towards Askam.
The marathon walk is more than simply an experience of the area’s unique beauty. It is professionally designed to renew the whole being, the physical and the psychological,” said Zenobia. She added that she believes every person who participated had their “own mountain to climb.” The hardest stage for Zenobia was when she had to walk with blistered feet over rough terrain, roughly six to eight hours a day (averaging 30km daily). “You walk with your mind, not your feet. I visualised completing the race before the actual event,” she said.
“By completing the 301km walk, I hope to inspire others to go out there and climb their own mountain.”
Zenobia thanks everyone who supported her, especially her husband, who trained with her over long distances on his mountain bike. She also thanks everyone who sent messages throughout her walk.
